Stalking Protection Orders

Suzy Lamplugh Trust welcomes the commencement of Stalking Protection Orders. This is a step forward in the way stalking is handled in England and Wales and an acknowledgement of the suffering victims of stalking can face.

Whilst we continue to aim for better application of the stalking law, Stalking Protection Orders are an additional tool which we hope will complement existing legislation and enable early action to be taken when a perpetrator’s behaviour suggests stalking is occurring but the police investigation is ongoing.

We welcome the obligation on the police rather than victims to apply and pay for Stalking Protection Orders during what is already a stressful time for those experiencing stalking. We hope that this obligation will be supported by extra training for the police to adequately recognise stalking behaviours when presented by victims. We look forward to seeing how Stalking Protection Orders will be used and hope that they will be utilised to their full potential with consistent application across all police forces in England and Wales.

We are pleased to see the inclusion of positive obligations for perpetrators in Stalking Protection Orders such as the requirement to provide the police with access to social media accounts, mobile phones, computers, tablets and passwords/codes. We are however cautious around guidance that recommends the referral of perpetrators to intervention programmes due to the lack of specialist programmes available. We urge the Government to support our call for more of these to be made available, in addition to ensuring further investment in support services for victims.

Suky Bhaker, Acting Chief Executive, The Suzy Lamplugh Trust“Today is an important step forward in the way stalking is handled in England and Wales and an acknowledgement of the suffering victims of stalking can face. We welcome the introduction of Stalking Protection Orders and hope to see the new order complement the existing legislation to ensure that victims receive a proactive response when they come forward and report stalking.”

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